Weber becomes positive influence on Frazier

When Chester Frazier and three other seniors lead No. 20 Illinois against No. 9 Michigan State on Sunday in Assembly Hall, the Illini could throw the Big Ten Conference race wide open.

John Supinie

A special relationship began to develop between Illinois coach Bruce Weber and Illini senior guard Chester Frazier during an early-morning workout four years ago at Notre Dame Prep in Fitchburg, Mass.

"The crazy thing was Chester didn't miss a shot that day,'' Weber said.

Taking over after the departure of star point guards Deron Williams and Dee Brown, Frazier struggled to win the trust of the fans. As critics outside the locker room blamed Frazier for much of Illinois' problems over the previous two seasons, Weber saw a player who achieved more on desire than ability, a player who would play through injuries and someday wanted to coach.

"In a way, it's kind of what I was when I grew up,'' Weber said. "I'd love to play and fought. I'd dive on the playground and rip my knees up. I can relate to him, how he is and how he plays. He's become a really good person. He's a basketball junkie. You get kind of closer with guys like that.''

When Frazier and three other seniors lead No. 20 Illinois against No. 9 Michigan State on Sunday in Assembly Hall, the Illini could throw the Big Ten Conference race wide open. So many of those critics now like Frazier, because the Illini are winning, but there was already a special bond between Frazier and the coach.

"I kind of fought him my first year and didn't understand basketball,'' Frazier said. "From my sophomore year until now, we've been great. We had a great relationship, not only about basketball but life. I'm happy I came here and got a chance to know him, not only on the basketball level but a personal level.

"He's been the positive male figure in my life since my dad died.''

That was April 3, 2007, a rough year for Frazier, who also watched the downward spiral of former roommate Jamar Smith. But Frazier just kept battling, like he learned growing up in Baltimore public housing as part of a low-income family. Those asphalt courts near his home reminded Frazier that little would be given for free.

"Growing up in a tough neighborhood, you have to fight for everything,'' he said.

As one of the smaller kids, Frazier learned to play defense and rebound when the ball didn't come his way. Despite his size, the 6-foot-2, 195-pounder ranks second on the Illini with 4.8 rebounds per game. Weber would be "shocked'' if Frazier isn't the Big Ten defensive player of the year.

Frazier put together a string of games where he shut down the opposing star but hasn't done as well on the stat sheet. Heading into the weekend, Kramer led the Big Ten in steals with 2.16 per game. Frazier was tied for 10th at 1.32. Johnson led the Big Ten with 2.37 blocks per game.

"It's not easy in this day and age to say, 'I'm the defensive stopper,' '' Weber said. "That's not cool to be the defensive stopper. You want to be the go-to guy, the 3-point shooter or the dunker. Chester has been really phenomenal for us. He's given us a chance to win every game, because if you take one guy away that's the key to the team, that allows you a chance to win a game.''

Frazier also leads the Big Ten with 5.4 assists and 2.42 assists per turnover. Yet the most important stat for a point guard is winning, and it's given Frazier a peace of mind.

"I'm happy right now,'' Frazier said. "Things could be a lot worse. Things could be better. We're in a good situation right now. We're fighting back from last year. I'm real content with that.''

Frazier might not leave any time soon. He's been offered a job as student assistant coach, a position allowable by the NCAA. He only needs to complete an internship to graduate in recreation management. By staying, he could help serve as a leader, one thing next year's team might need.

"One of the questions is who is going to take his place,'' Weber said. "Maybe he can help nourish that.''

Frazier's desire on the court and clean living off it already impressed his teammates.

"He's a great man and a great leader,'' said Illini senior guard Trent Meacham. "I respect him as much as anybody.''

The fans warmed up to Frazier, but he doesn't trust them. He can still remember when they ripped him on the Internet and booed him in the Hall.

"It's irritated me a little,'' Frazier said. "No, I think about it. I'm not doing anything differently. We're just winning. I don't care. People are going to say what they want and think what they want. Look at the blogs. They love you and hate you. I don't care what everyone else has to say.

"I'm not doing it for the fans necessarily. I represent myself, the university and my family.''

His mother, Peggy Lynch, will see him play at Assembly Hall for the second time this weekend. His older brother, James, a member of the U.S. Navy, arrived Friday morning after a long drive from Virginia. Then there's Weber, the surrogate father who sees a little bit of himself in Frazier.

Noteworthy: Deon Thomas, Illinois' all-time leading scorer with 2,129 points, will be recognized at halftime Sunday. … Illinois ranks second in the Big Ten and 25th nationally in field-goal defense (39.2 percent). The Illini also rank second in the Big Ten in field-goal shooting (46.3). … Illinois leads the all-time series 53-52, including a 34-16 advantage in games played in Champaign. The Spartans have won five of the last six in the series, including a 63-57 victory on Jan. 17 in East Lansing, Mich.

Key for Illini: Rebound. Michigan State ranks first at 11.8 in rebound margin during Big Ten games.

Key for Spartans: Take care of the ball. In the first meeting vs. Illinois, Michigan State lost 14 turnovers in the first half.

Key quote: "Not many people made it out of there. I was lucky enough to have the chance. To make it out of there, I feel proud. I do it for those people who didn't get a chance or didn't feel they had a way out.'' -- Illinois guard Chester Frazier, on escaping the crime and poverty of Baltimore.